Walking is the best way to clear your mind; counting your steps, watching the people around, staring at the sky. All provided a wonderful distraction for anyone and Edward welcomed them all openly as he dodged tourists and street vendors. He was upset over his fight with Winry and began to think of ways to make it up to her.

Tracing his steps, he came back to one of the shops that Winry had lingered in the most, an antique mechanic shop. The owner welcomed him kindly and gave a tour of his collection, hoping to spark his interest when they can across a tool kit. Sure, Winry had plenty of those but this set seemed to stick out. It contained a few screwdrivers, measuring tape, screws, nails, a variety of wrenches, pliers all covered up in sandy colored leather with a black leather cord to tie it. Nothing too special.

Edward picked it up carefully, and the owner grinned brightly.

"Nice, ain't it? Pick it up while traveling with the wife. It has a metal plate of the back it if ya wanna personalize it."

He explained, turning the pouch over in his hands to show what he was talking about.

"I'll take it."

Edward stated simply, handing it back.

"I want something on the plate though."

"Anything ya want."

Practically running out the store, Edward sighed in relieve, having finally left the stuffy store. After learning he was a state alchemist, the man wouldn't shut up!

"Stupid old man…"

Edward growled quietly, transferring his purchase into his other hand and walking calmly back to where he had last seen his brother and Winry. He braced himself by taking calmly breaths and repeated telling himself what to do under his breath.

'Just breathe. Say you're sorry and you didn't mean anything. No, didn't mean to hurt her feelings. I think that's better… Sorry, feelings, and breathe. Sorry, feelings---'

What the…?

The street now seemed to be temporarily blocked off. Military personnel calmly told onlookers to go on with their shopping, everything was under control. 'No, you're not at risk. We assure you that you are safe; all the sugar coating and fake smiles that they could muster while officers paced behind them. That was when Ed finally got a glimpse of silver metal and pushed around everyone, flashing his watch to anyone who stopped him until Al spotted him and met halfway.

"Brother, you're here! Everyone was trying to looking for you."

Al spoke quickly, sounding relieved but still carried an edge to it and Edward opened his mouth to ask what happened when Roy jogged up to them.

"Good, you're here. Did Al fill you in yet?"

"No. I just got here. What's going on?"

Ed asked, trying to look around Al to see what was being blocked off. There was a little blood on the ground but nothing major and there was no body so it didn't seem like a big deal when he noticed someone was missing.

"Where's Winry? Did she go back to the base?"

That's when Al and Roy exchanged concerned looks with each other. Roy was the one to speak first.

"Edward… I hate to be the one to tell you this but Winry…"

The bag in his hand slipped to the ground, causing the bag to fall open and cast the tool kit over the gravel road, forgotten as the news hit him, hard. Glinting in the sun, the inscription seemed mocking had anyone noticed it.

For Always Being There, - Edward

The next few hours blurred into each other, melting into darkness. They suffered through standard protocol for kidnappings and met at the Central to discuss it all, going over every last detail until they couldn't hear anymore.

"Vince Marshall."

Riza read out from the thick folder that she now tossed out on the table in front of the gathered men as she seemed to recite from memory.

"Age: 38, Former soldier, Captured and brought in by Edward Elric approximately 3 years ago after reports of corruption and was under the suspicion of several deaths include that of his wife who he had been attempting a human transmutation for when Mr. Elric intervened. Marshall was captured on the spot and immediately sentence to life."

"He escaped early this afternoon, taking out one officer. He then seemed to have followed Mr. Elric where he abducted the subject- Ms. Rockwell- when she was most vulnerable. Why she was chosen or what he plans to do is still unknown. "

Edward and Alphonse knew all the details. It was a horrible experience that they had done their best to forget but it was never that simple. After the introduction, everyone pressed for answers. None of them helped.

"But she is alive, right? This blood…"

Kain Fury asked meekly, staring over the photos of the scene.

"It's hardly enough to kill her."

Jean Havoc scoffed at him, tossing his papers to the middle of the table.

"It's probably from the struggle when he was taking her. You know, a scratch. If he wanted to just kill her, he would have done it and left her there."

"This guy might have slipped past us but he couldn't honestly escape the city, right?"

Officer Falman asked worriedly, looking around for someone to answer his question. No did.

"But why Winry? I mean, he wants Edward, not the girl so why didn't he kill her then go for Edward?"

Lieutenant Breda asked, resting his cheek on his fist that he kept propped on the table until Roy smack his arm, causing his chin to smack the table.

"It's obvious what he wants. It's bait. The question is what we will do about it now."

Roy had spoken smoothly, calmly. Those around him could practically here the gears turn as he studied Edward's profile, wondering if he had known anything… The city was search over and there was no sign of Vince or Winry. They were all left at a dead end and the only place to go from there was back to the beginning.

That now left Al and Ed on the train headed to a small town in Aerugo.

Edward hadn't been keen on going back and openly showed his disgust to the window of the train, pressing his forehead to the glass as Al slept across from him. What if Winry wasn't here? It would be a waste of time and Winry didn't have time.

"We got everything here. We'll keep searching. You just go and see what you can find out. I promise, we'll find her."

Mustang assured them, giving Ed's shoulder a firm squeeze as he watched him with concern.

Edward had barely talked during their time in Central. Everything was caught in his throat, piling up by the minute as he went over and over again the last conversation he had with Winry. It was stupid and selfish. He had no right to speak to her like that. She was right, after all.

Squeezing his eyes shut, Ed pushed the memories away as he allowed the cool of the window numb his cheek inside the small train compartment.

"Edward?"

Al whispered softly, testing if Edward was awake even though he knew he was. It was more a test of if he would respond.

"Yeah, Al?"

"Winry will be okay… right?"

It was a simple question and Ed had to lift his head to look up to his brother. Al was wise beyond his age but was still young. Ed did everything he could to keep Al that way. He didn't want him to be exposed or hurt anymore than he's already been and is was obvious that Al was beating himself with worry and guilt as much as he was. It wasn't fair.

"Yeah. She will be okay. We'll find her."

He replied, echoing what Roy had said and Al nodded, seeming to accept that answer. Probably because it was Edward who said it this time instead. Ed resumed his previous position, eyes skimming over the landscape as he slowly closed his eyes.

"You two are the only people here that truly know how this man works. What do you think he's doing?"

Roy asked quietly, having pulled Edward aside while Al boarded the train.

"He wants revenge."

Edward muttered quietly.

"We stopped him from bringing his wife back...

..So he's going to take someone from us."